Elf on the shelf gifting of a portrait

Patton is loving to draw these days. He thought it would be nice to draw Spike. So Spike thought he would return the favor! Love the drawings and patton's writing! Cherish!!

Elf on th shelf locked out

Oops! Someone got locked out. Wonder how long it will take the boys to spot him tomorrow.

Elf on the shelf hot chocolate and puzzled?

I forgot to post spikes adventure last night of puzzles. We forgot to drink hot chocolate while watching his movie premier tonight....so hot chocolate for breakfast? I think so!

Elf on the shelf let it snow

Spike would really like it to snow. He made his own!

Elf on the shelf making soup

Spike is feeling much better, but Ike isn't. Spike thought he'd help him and me out by making chicken soup. Thanks spike!

Elf on the shelf warm marshmallow bath

Nothing helps a person feel better like a nice warm marshmallow bath. Get better soon Spike!

Elf n the shelf sick

Flu has hit our house...boo! First Ike now Spike.

Elf n the shelf stuck

Uh oh! Spike was caught red handed.

Elf on the shelf advent helper

Spike helping us out with the next item on the advent tree. Gee thanks Spike!

Elf on the shelf drinks!

At least spike is thinking lite....light headed is more like it.

Elf on the shelf and JESUS

Spike wants to take the time to remind everyone of the real reason of the season....JESUS. He is just a fun memory maker to help us become closer so we can celebrate the birth of the Son as a family.

Elf on the shelf "cheese!!"

Spike may have gone too far!! Teehee

Elf on the shelf: spike washi here:)

Elf on the shelf: snow angel

Silly spike! He was inspired by making of Rice Krispies today.

DPP day one

Shirt says it all!

Elf on the shelf raids the cookie jar

He is at it again. Silly spike!

Elf on the shelf playing Sorry

Spike wanted his hand at playing kenner's favorite game.

Elf on the shelf riding with frosty!

Weeeeee!

Cold Elf on the shelf

Enough said

Elf on the shelf day 3

The boys have packed their lunch for tomorrow, which doesn't happen very often. Ike doesn't pack his lunch so Spike thought he needed one.

I really think I love this more than the boys do...hehe

Elf on the shelf photo bomb

Spike was at it again. This time helping me out with a project I have been wanting to do for a while. Except that he photo bombed Ike....

Elf of the shelf day 2

Spike wanted in on the action tonight too!

2012 hand prints

Today has been a wildly successful day for my to do list and my heart! It is fun to see the boys grow up and learn to be responsible and motivated to do things they like. Patton was on a mission this morning because he knew he would get to put up Christmas decorations. I haven't seen him move that fast in a long time. Kendra and Kenna were able to come over, which is always a treat just for fellowship.

The boys ( yes all of them) decorated the tree, which they did quite well. The blessing of having a special tree versus specific decorations help. The Elge's started a tradition with Casey that they bought him an ornament that meant something about what happened that year or his truck collection. The first years of marriage our tree was a bit bleak. Having 2 kids within 15 months helped that problem. We all enjoy putting up the ornaments and seeing what we have done through the years.
One tradition I started last year was putting the boys handprints on the tree skirt. Today we did this years. It will be fun to see the differences next year.

I just love the holidays! So grateful for God becoming Man!

Elf on the shelf day 1

Oh boy this is going to be fun. I am going to do a North Pole breakfast next year...but for now fun times with Spike.

Too busy to say cheese

I think I have limited Ike creativity by putting all the toys in the basement. When the boys were his age we had an entire house torn up but they had all access pass to their toys on the first floor. I think he could play this all day.

New camera...how did I do?

Never thought that a new real camera would be so much fun!  Still trying out both lenses and various settings.  Just fun to get clear photos of who my true monkeys are.

Closet pre organization

Yes yes yes I am letting you on a severer place no one else get trapped into. I have been following www.abowlfulloflemons.com and her organization challenge. I have a lot of fun giving homes to all of our things. Unfortunately, my closet has been the home to many things because it is not ever seen. Here is to the project that has been on my to do list the longest....my closet. Wish me luck.

Chore documentation

Yes yes I did make one for Kenner too. I absolutely love chore pad, but unfortunately for the boys, I don't get all their chores documented. I have had some time to peruse through many different blogs. I am sorry I don't remember where this came from (probably someone connected to a bowl full of lemons). It was super easy to make. I also made a night time one w moon and stars to help ease of bedtime too. We will see how this works.

What do you do to keep track of your kids chores?

My adorable pillow

So I cut my block of the month down so it wasn't do big. I decided he made a cute pillow. What do you think, Annie?

Kitchen reorganization

Thanks to a bowl full of lemons blog, I am embarking on an organization frenzy of my house. One area at a time. Here are some pics of before and after. Sorry no exciting clear pics, but hopefully you can get the gist. I got all my containers at dollar tree.

She actually spilt the kitchen and the pantry up, as did i. I am just getting around to posting both the pantry and the kitchen. I am also in the process of re doing the boys closet. It is farther down on the list for the bowl full of lemons, but I wanted to do it now w the change of clothes and attempting to establish some type of rotation w the clothes....or patton's teacher is going to think he has 4 tshirts.

Transformed

This picture would have happened one month ago only if the worlds largest bribe was taking place. For this i am so thankful. I need to be reminded of this picture when I am frustrated beyond belief in the mornings when Patton is refusing to wear anything but his batman shirt or the ninjago shirt or the angry bird shirt.

Yes I have tried it all to get the child to wear a variety of the cute clothes he has in his closet. Attempt 1: have him help me set outfits for the week. FAIL attempt 2: have him pick out the outfit the night before. FAIL. Attempt 3: hide the clean clothes so he had to pick something new. HUGE FAIL. Attempt 4: pick out an outfit, sleep in it, no fits in the am. FAIL.

So with the horrors I have for the morning hours, seeing my second born be proud to be a great artist my heart is filled.